The Trans-Saharan Trade and The Indian Ocean Trade

The trans-Saharan trade was the route that was traveled by many people, but in referring to the section of time we studied, the Arabs used this route to move across the Sahara to trade with Africans, they traded with each other for the needs and desire of goods that each other could provide for each other. Camels were an added comfort for merchants and travelers you would risk the dangers of the dessert. Europe, Mediterranean, and the Middle-East could trade with the merchants of Africa, and mounted these camels to travel south on these well-established routes.  With routes leading south for the exchange of gold, ivory, kola nuts, and slaves within Africa, they also traveled north.  While gold supplied the European kings, queens, and merchants came from West Africa, the history shows the most constant commodity crossing the Sahara was slaves. The Indian Ocean Trade allowed for huge profits to be made and the demand for commodities kept the dangers of the dessert stored away with the hopes of big riches or profits to be had. Indian Ocean Trade was one of the oldest trade routes between Africa and Asia.

During the early days of Indian Ocean trade, the buying and selling of goods took place only between the Swahili people living in East Africa and Arabs from Asia.  It evolved not because of slaves or gold, but salt. Salt was needed for body function, but also for preservative for food, medical purposes, and it is also addictive. Salt was cut, transported by camels and loaded on to canoes to be transported up and down the river. These trade routes were helpful in the creation of the language and culture that involved much blending between the local, Arab, African, and Asian ways of life. This trade network expanded beyond the east coast into the interior of kingdoms. This allowed for continued advancement because of the use of gained knowledge from trading with others outside of their own community.